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Has a sturdy binding with some shelf wear. May have some markings or highlighting. Used copies may not include access codes or Cd's. Has a sturdy binding with some shelf wear. May have some markings or highlighting. Used copies may not include access codes or Cd's. See less

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Name: The Theory of Death: A Decker/Lazarus Novel (Decker/Lazarus Novels, 23): Kellerman, Faye: 9780062270214: Amazon.com: Books
Price: 9.64 USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Rating: 4.4 (3567 reviews)

Faye Kellerman

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The Theory of Death: A Decker/Lazarus Novel (Decker/Lazarus Novels, 23) Hardcover – October 27, 2015

by Faye Kellerman (Author)

4.4 3,567 ratings

Book 23 of 27: Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus

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Now living in upstate New York, former LAPD lieutenant Peter Decker is plunged into a bizarre web involving academia, underworld crime, and calculating killers in this compulsive novel in New York Times bestselling author Faye Kellerman's beloved Decker and Lazarus series.

Former LAPD lieutenant Peter Decker is relishing the quiet and slow pace of his new job with the Greenbury police department. The work is low stress and engaging, and it’s been almost a year since the last murder in this sleepy upstate New York town.

Then the body of a nude man is found deep within the woods, shattering Decker’s peace. The death appears to be a suicide—a single shot to the head, the gun by his side. But until the coroner’s ruling, the scene must be treated as a suspicious crime. Without any personal effects near the body, Decker must dig to uncover his identity, a task made difficult by the department’s tight budget and limited personnel. Luckily, Decker gets some unexpected help when his friend and former Greenbury colleague Tyler McAdams calls, looking for a quiet place to study for his law finals.

The investigation takes Decker and McAdams to Kneed Loft College, where they must penetrate the indecipherable upper echelons of mathematics and mathematical prodigies. Beneath the school’s rarified atmosphere they discover a sphere of scheming academics, hidden cyphers—and most dangerous of all—a realm of underworld crime that transforms harmless nerds into cold, calculating evil geniuses. It will take all of Decker’s experience and McAdams’s brains to penetrate enigmatic formulas and codes and solve a dark, twisted crime devised by some brilliant and depraved masterminds.

Book 23 of 27

Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus
Print length

384 pages
Language

English
Publisher

William Morrow
Publication date

October 27, 2015
Dimensions

6 x 1.28 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0062270214
ISBN-13

978-0062270214
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The crimes, puzzles, mysteries, and thrills are all exciting when it comes to Kellerman’s writing, but it is the perfect relationship between Decker and Lazarus that still holds the reader and grows better and better with each novel. — Suspense Magazine

“Kellerman writes with her usual sensitivity [...]. Writing to her strengths, Kellerman shows her customary compasion for isolated souls like Eli and social outliers like his Mennonite farm family.” — New York Times Book Review

“THE THEORY OF DEATH is perfectly paced, full of quirky and, yes, malevolent characters populating a puzzling mystery, which, at its heart, concerns whether or not a crime actually has been committed. Faye Kellerman continues to impress and mightily so.” — Bookreporter.com

From the Back Cover

It has been almost a year since Greenbury’s last murder. Peter Decker, a former lieutenant for LAPD, has enjoyed the slow pace of his new job with the sleepy upstate police department. All that changes when an unidentified,nude male body is found deep within the local woods.

It appears to be a suicide—single shot to the head, gun by his side—but until the coroner makes the final determination, Decker must treat the scene as a suspicious crime. The first thing he must do is identify the body—no easy task. But then Decker gets lucky.

Tyler McAdams, a former Greenbury detective and now a first-year law student, calls Decker, and once he hears about the intriguing case, his attentions shift from statutes to corpses.

When the body is finally identified, Decker and McAdams must penetrate into indecipherable upper echelons of mathematics and mathematical prodigies at Kneed Loft College. It turns out to be a dangerous sphere of scheming academics, secret cyphers, and hidden corruption, where even harmless nerds can morph into cold, calculating geniuses. They will have to employ all of their wits to penetrate enigmatic formulas and codes to solve a dark, twisted tale created by depraved, evil masterminds.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow; First Edition first Printing (October 27, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062270214
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062270214
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.18 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.28 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,336,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #17,834 in Police Procedurals (Books)
- #52,539 in Suspense Thrillers
- #65,820 in American Literature (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 3,567 ratings

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Faye Kellerman

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Faye Kellerman is the author of twenty-six novels, including nineteen New York Times bestselling mysteries that feature the husband-and-wife team of Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus. She has also penned two best selling short novels with her husband, New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Kellerman, and recently has teamed up with her daughter, Aliza, to co-write a teen novel, entitled PRISM. She lives in Los Angeles, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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4.4 out of 5

3,567 global ratings

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sarah levine simon

One is an apparent suicide—the other made to look like suicide. Peter Decker and his young associate Tyler ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2016

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Theory of Death by Faye Kellerman, the most recent in the Peter and Rina Decker series, is an outstanding read. The Deckers have left LA and now reside in a small college town in upstate New York where Peter takes on the job of chief of police. He’s supposed to be semi retired having left the LAPD. In the novel Kellerman takes on the arcane world of theoretical and applied mathematics at a college called Kneed Loft—a think tank and grooming center for young mathematicians.
Two deaths occur as the professors and their students engage in competition to claim credit for each other’s work. One is an apparent suicide—the other made to look like suicide. Peter Decker and his young associate Tyler MacAdams girded by Rina’s good Kosher food and good ideas set out to solve the mysterious deaths. The suicide had been a math prodigy with such a great future in store that it was difficult to believe he’d taken his life. The second death—an untenured female professor was engaging in outside work that the school would never approve. The math-speak is crucial to the story and I admire Kellerman’s handling of it. She made me, feel like I understood it. There are plenty of twists and turns and rich back-stories, as well. Tyler MacAdams is now a Harvard law student and the Peter Decker worries that he won’t pass his exams. MacAdams’ romantic interest is a suspect. The final denouement took me by surprise. When they finally ferret out the reason for the suicide it is a complete surprise as well.
Kellerman brings out the richness of family and culture in Orthodox Judiasm. Her books have been critical as well but I always come away from reading her with a sense of satisfaction in my own Judiasm. When an author creates something sordid like a murder or suicide, if the characters enjoy a background of richness and richness of detail then this reader finds full satisfaction.

7 people found this helpful

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Kate Pynch

Not Quite Excellent

Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2017

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I've read all of Faye Keller man's books. This one was very very good or excellent for most writers but not as good as most of hers.

One thing that really bothered me in this book was a key element in one death that carried over to another. The neatly folded clothing of the deceased. This bothered me greatly because the author never states how anyone could know that this was a key element in the first death. She never states that this could be known by the general public or that this information had been made available. This is clue is surprisingly clumsy for a writer of her calibre. It really bugged and still does a day after finishing the book.

The characterization was thing here too, somehow Rina seemed flat. I usually read her books in a day. I actually took four days this time as I put it aside to read and review another book before picking it up again.

While this book is very very good, if picking this book up as my first Decker/Lazarus book I doubt I would be curious enough to look for others. For people who have followed the series from that start, it's not a bad book at all it simply does not have the magic.

4 people found this helpful

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cynthia windle

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Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2023

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Great book, great author. Never disappoints

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2022

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I love the Decker/Lazarus books. The tale is engrossing and the characters are delightful. I've read most of them. Highly recommended.

One person found this helpful

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Maryah maki

Said good used almost like new. Definitely wasn’t like new.

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023

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I’m glad to get the book, but it was very noticeably used.

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2016

Verified Purchase

Faye Kellerman has once again produced a thumping good read in her latest Decker/Lazarus tale. One of the criticisms I read before reading this book mentioned the overuse of Fourier analysis as part of the backstory. I did not find it at all intrusive, and urge anyone who enjoys Kellerman's stories to read this one without trepidation. Her explanation of Fourier algorithms is simple, easily understood (unlike the algorithms themselves!). My only reservation is the way the (possible) suicide of a character is dealt with throughout the majority of the book. However, she manages to pull off a "last minute" save in the closing chapter, and wraps up that part of the story satisfactorily, even though a bit too neatly. Does not spoil the plot or progression. I did begin to wonder if she is concerned about the problems that come with growing older. (Wonder if her husband voices complaints or is prickly about aging the way Peter is?)

In any event, the book is another triumph, could not put it down, and therefore I highly recommend it.

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Sylviane Basler

Excellent

Reviewed in France on April 8, 2022

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J'adore les personnages de Faye Kellerman. Je m'aperçois que j'ai vieilli en même temps que Peter Decker... Une passionnante enquête, de nouveaux personnages, mais l'ombre de Chris Donatti plane toujours...

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Lynda Mawhinney

good book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2020

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book arrived on time, excellent condition. Good book if you enjoy this series.

CC

Good summer read

Reviewed in Canada on February 23, 2017

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